Did you always like running?

Title basically says it all. Have you always liked running? I would like to like running, but I don't think I do. Don't get me wrong, I liked setting goals, meeting them, improving, etc. but haven't run in months. I compete in powerlifting and it seems that is more my body type. If I continue running, would it grow on me?

Nope! Definitely didn't always like running. When I was growing up and we had to run a mile every year in PE class, I couldn't even finish the mile. I had asthma and thought running was supposed to make your chest and throat hurt. I couldn't understand how anyone could do it.

In high school I tried again, joining track & field for one season where I came in last in every race. I was in way over my head, and my coaches didn't adjust to bring me up to speed - they just tried to minimize the time I was out there on the track, so I ran (very embarrassing) 100s and 200s.

Around age 20 I started occasional treadmill running as part of a more general gym rat routine. I ran a mile for the first time ever! At 24 I trained for and ran my first half marathon... then a few more... then at 27 I ran my first marathon. I've been focusing on that distance for the last few years, and am now a year-round, all-the-time runner, and I love it.

For me, a lot changed when I was able to explore running on my own in an environment where there weren't any teams, competitors, tests or races. It was not something that came naturally to me, so I needed that time to adjust and just be like "I'mma try some things on the treadmill now."

In high school I tried again, joining track & field for one season where I came in last in every race. I was in way over my head, and my coaches didn't adjust to bring me up to speed - they just tried to minimize the time I was out there on the track, so I ran (very embarrassing) 100s and 200s.

I can relate to this.

By the time I got to high school, I already had a couple marathons under my belt, so I figured I'd excel at cross country.

The problem was my high school was state cross country champs for like 10,000 straight years. And as a freshman, I was in the back of the pack.

And, at least 30 years ago, everyone got the same work outs, and there were no assigned paces based on your ability.

So, each and every work out found me simply running as fast as I possibly could. While the front of the pack was running an easy long run, I was running as fast as I possibly could to keep up. 400's... 800's... mile repeats... didn't matter... run them as fast as I could.

It was miserable.

Getting back into recreational running a life time later, it was very illuminating to realize that I didn't have to run everything as fast as I could.

I even enjoy speedwork now, knowing that even interval training can be done at a sub-vomiting pace.

No way. If you had told me a few years ago I'd become a runner, I'd have laughed in your face. For most of my life I was entirely sedentary and overweight to one degree or another. Then I got serious about losing weight, and when I moved to my current city I needed a cheap way to exercise. And the rest is history...

No. My first serious running regimen resulted in always sticking to a set plan. After awhile, getting up a 5am, tired as **** and knowing I would spend the next 90 minutes running, made me set the alarm 90 minutes later and just sleep in.

Now I just run. I do speedwork and run 60+ mpw, but I have no set plans. I just get out the door. Lots of times for just 3 miles and it turns into 8+ miles. I don't have any competitive goals, though, except for the ones with myself, and I've broken the PR's I set back in my 20's. Whatever works to keep you out there. Different folks; different strokes.

I was a skinny kid, and thought life sucked and I got a raw deal. Then a guy named Frank Shorter won the Olympic Marathon. Before that I didn't know there was anything that skinny people could be good at. I was a farm kid, and would go out on the country roads and run with my dog and pretend I was Frank.

I was a skinny kid, and thought life sucked and I got a raw deal. Then a guy name Frank Shorter won the Olympic Marathon. Before that I didn't know there was anything that skinny people could be good at. I was a farm kid, and would go out on the country roads and run with my dog and pretend I was Frank.

I thought farm kids got buff from actually having to be active and lift bales of hay and stuff.

In high school I tried again, joining track & field for one season where I came in last in every race. I was in way over my head, and my coaches didn't adjust to bring me up to speed - they just tried to minimize the time I was out there on the track, so I ran (very embarrassing) 100s and 200s.

By the time I got to high school, I already had a couple marathons under my belt, so I figured I'd excel at cross country.

I even enjoy speedwork now, knowing that even interval training can be done at a sub-vomiting pace.

Oh my goodness I finished high school last year - and was too scared to tell people I was doing a marathon because they say I am 'too young,' after the marathon I did get a lot of congrats but some people just want to tell me I should be doing other things!I think its awesome you had done marathons before high school!

I would hated to have experimented with speedwork if I were you...doesn't sound too good!

Originally Posted by Noga:

No way. If you had told me a few years ago I'd become a runner, I'd have laughed in your face. For most of my life I was entirely sedentary and overweight to one degree or another. Then I got serious about losing weight, and when I moved to my current city I needed a cheap way to exercise. And the rest is history...

I still can't believe it.

That is really good! Well done!!!

Did I always I enjoy running - actually so far yes I have, I watched mum race since I was about 2 years old Started running at 8, however I am only 19...give me 20 years and I will come back and let you all know!

Like is not a word I would use to describe my relationship with running. I've never hated it. It's more something I started doing because I was an abject failure at all the other sports my HS offered. I wasn't much better at running but at least I wasn't cut from the team since there was a no-cut policy. I enjoy being active so when I realized how far out of shape I had gotten in college, I started running again. It was the natural choice. Been running ever since and discovered that sometime between the end of HS when I stopped and end of junior year in college when I restarted, that I had somehow gotten a lot faster.

Depends on how you set the bailer. Anywhere between 50 and 120 pounds. Wire-ties are usually heavier. Our small bales were around 100 lbs. The big round ones can weigh a ton, or just under. Nobody lifts them.

Personally, I never really liked running. Honestly, even now I'm not sure how much I *like* it. I think it is something I'm reasonably suited to by temperament and I enjoy the sense of accomplishment, but it is only fun once in a while. It is somehow satisfying so I keep doing it.

For me, as a way of keeping fit, running is ok. I wouldn't say I "love" it, I really enjoy more rowing on a lake, hiking in the mountain or cycling on a country road, but I don't have access to those very often. But, running is ok as my main mean for staying fit. Once in a while, I get to run in the country, on a summer day, and I love it. The rest of the time I have a choice of cracked sidewalks in ugly suburbia, or my TM. Love would be a big word for those...

HOWEVER, I LOVE LOVE LOVE training for races. More than anything else I've ever done in my life. I'm not going to break any records ever and I know I will start slowing down very soon, but my guess is that I will still love training. Not sure why, but it fills a need in me.

Personally, I never really liked running. Honestly, even now I'm not sure how much I *like* it. I think it is something I'm reasonably suited to by temperament and I enjoy the sense of accomplishment, but it is only fun once in a while. It is somehow satisfying so I keep doing it.

I'm like this. I don't like running for the sake of merely running. Once in a while, I'll actually enjoy the act of running itself - being outside taking in the scenery and the fresh air - but mostly I'd rather be home taking a nap on the couch or something. What I LIKE is being 40+ pounds lighter than when I started running more seriously, having a bunch of marathon and half marathon medals and a few age-group awards, hearing the doctor tell me my cholesterol is still in the good range, and seeing my kids do well in their sports and school work because dad and mom are modelling such traits as persistence, dedication, and hard work. If you want to enjoy the view, first you have to climb the mountain.

I also like quite a bit being pretty good at something, and if this next marathon goes as planned, I'll get a BQ time. I'm going to like that quite a bit.

Personally, I never really liked running. Honestly, even now I'm not sure how much I *like* it. I think it is something I'm reasonably suited to by temperament and I enjoy the sense of accomplishment, but it is only fun once in a while. It is somehow satisfying so I keep doing it.

Yep - pretty much this. I started running (the first time) on a dare and kept doing it for several years because I was reasonably good at it. Started running the second time because my DS started running in HS and it gave us a common activity (ha - but only for about a few months - then he left me in his dust).

Oh, I didn't answer the question, haha... When I started running, it was like meh... but a week later, I found the forums here and had a few questions for the people. That's when I realized that people, commoners like myself, could also train for and run races. I never knew that! I fell in love with the coach that day. His name was SmartCoach. LOL...

Loved it from the get. Track and cross country meets rank up there as some of the best times of my life. We had to share a bus with a rival team and while that sounds like a recipe for disaster it wound up being AWESOME. Now we were 2 teams strong for cheering and encouragement at awards time. We had after parties and really made some good friends. Fun times.

so yeah, running has always been my bag. I can only wonder where I would be in my running today if I had stuck with it. But I had another path to follow for 30 years. I'm just glad I'm able to come back and still have some fun with it.

Yes. I took to it right away. Certainly, enjoying it helps make the improvements come quicker because you stay motivated. I run on most days and almost always look forward to my daily run. Only rarely do I just not feel like doing it. I've only been at this for a couple of years though. Maybe the interest will fade. Who knows.

I never hated running, but I didn't really start to love it until this past few years that I've been at it. What I really love is pushing myself. I guess that's how it started. Plus, I had a 2 month old infant when I started up this time around who would sleep very soundly in his seat next to the treadmill. Perfect. That was all fine and good, but when we moved back to the area we live now and I started running outside more. Then I really felt like spending more time at it--hence the half marathon training. Now it's something I would miss doing if I quit.

No, I haven't always liked it. When I started I was out of shape and overweight. Lot's of suffering involved. But I like competing, the social aspect, and the weight loss. There is still suffering.. Brad Hudson makes sure of that... but it's more often than not a good suffering rather than a "I f'ing quit" kind.

Nope. I would fain illness when we had to do the "Presidential Physical Fitness test" every year, I could barely walk a mile let alone run one! I didn't want to embarrass myself infront of the whole school, so I would be "sick" that day and have to do it on a make-up day(with all the other overweight kids like myself!)

My family is big. We all weigh over 200lbs. Like literally always the biggest kids in class.Sedentary. TV watching was our sport of choice!

A few years ago, I wanted to open a window that is above our washing machine. I could not climb ontop of it, even with a step ladder and it made me really mad. Mad at myself for being okay with being not okay. So at 185lbs(svelte by my family's standards), I made a diet plan and did weekly weight checks. Put mini goals and long term ones. One of those was to start running once I reached 120lbs. Why that number? I dunno. I incorprorated a lot of changes over the weight loss and each plateu seemed like it needed a plan to overcome it. Be prepared and such. So I got down to 120 and started running.

I honestly thought it wouldn't last. We tend to yo-yo diet in my family but I was(am) determined that this is forever. So even when I didn't want to go, I did. It wasn't a choice but just something I did, like showering or eating veggies, who chooses not to do that? I needed to change my mentality, not just my actions.

Do I love running, no. Do I like it? Sortof. But I no longer let myself choose to only do things I find easy or love. I love ice cream. I love pizza. I love bikes. But I don't love running.

Funny thing is that people who have known me my whole life will make comments about how I am so "lucky" to be skinny, that I can magically run and breathe at the same time, I must have some innate ability that they do not possess. Makes me mad.....yes, the ability to get my butt out there when I don't wanna go. Sorry, nothing special just realizing we sometimes have to do things we don't love to do things we do...like have ice cream.

I have always liked running and walking too. Running is similar to dancing for me it's that fun.

Ha, awesome! I love dancing. But have you ever danced at a running event? LOL I have and man did I get some looks. Sorry, but they were playing my Zumba songs pre-race. Busted out a few moves. Hey, it was a pre race warm up, right?

Nope. I would fain illness when we had to do the "Presidential Physical Fitness test" every year, I could barely walk a mile let alone run one! I didn't want to embarrass myself infront of the whole school, so I would be "sick" that day and have to do it on a make-up day(with all the other overweight kids like myself!)

My family is big. We all weigh over 200lbs. Like literally always the biggest kids in class.Sedentary. TV watching was our sport of choice!

A few years ago, I wanted to open a window that is above our washing machine. I could not climb ontop of it, even with a step ladder and it made me really mad. Mad at myself for being okay with being not okay. So at 185lbs(svelte by my family's standards), I made a diet plan and did weekly weight checks. Put mini goals and long term ones. One of those was to start running once I reached 120lbs. Why that number? I dunno. I incorprorated a lot of changes over the weight loss and each plateu seemed like it needed a plan to overcome it. Be prepared and such. So I got down to 120 and started running.

I honestly thought it wouldn't last. We tend to yo-yo diet in my family but I was(am) determined that this is forever. So even when I didn't want to go, I did. It wasn't a choice but just something I did, like showering or eating veggies, who chooses not to do that? I needed to change my mentality, not just my actions.

Do I love running, no. Do I like it? Sortof. But I no longer let myself choose to only do things I find easy or love. I love ice cream. I love pizza. I love bikes. But I don't love running.

Funny thing is that people who have known me my whole life will make comments about how I am so "lucky" to be skinny, that I can magically run and breathe at the same time, I must have some innate ability that they do not possess. Makes me mad.....yes, the ability to get my butt out there when I don't wanna go. Sorry, nothing special just realizing we sometimes have to do things we don't love to do things we do...like have ice cream.

I'm on opposite end of things--skinny. Not thin, skinny. been this way my whole life and I STILL get people (usually over weight) who say "Don't you eat?". I would NEVER say the things to over weight people that they have said to me.

I have always liked running and walking too. Running is similar to dancing for me it's that fun.

Ha, awesome! I love dancing. But have you ever danced at a running event? LOL I have and man did I get some looks. Sorry, but they were playing my Zumba songs pre-race. Busted out a few moves. Hey, it was a pre race warm up, right?

I am a very competitive person. I started to love running when I started training for a HM and I recognized that there would be massive room for improvement over the next 10 years. For a while I didn't like the fact that it hurt every time I went out, but now its not bad. Basically, I love competitions...even it is with my own PR. I love the side effects of running too. These are visible in the mirror and continue to motivate me.

Nope. I would fain illness when we had to do the "Presidential Physical Fitness test" every year, I could barely walk a mile let alone run one! I didn't want to embarrass myself infront of the whole school, so I would be "sick" that day and have to do it on a make-up day(with all the other overweight kids like myself!)

My family is big. We all weigh over 200lbs. Like literally always the biggest kids in class.Sedentary. TV watching was our sport of choice!

A few years ago, I wanted to open a window that is above our washing machine. I could not climb ontop of it, even with a step ladder and it made me really mad. Mad at myself for being okay with being not okay. So at 185lbs(svelte by my family's standards), I made a diet plan and did weekly weight checks. Put mini goals and long term ones. One of those was to start running once I reached 120lbs. Why that number? I dunno. I incorprorated a lot of changes over the weight loss and each plateu seemed like it needed a plan to overcome it. Be prepared and such. So I got down to 120 and started running.

I honestly thought it wouldn't last. We tend to yo-yo diet in my family but I was(am) determined that this is forever. So even when I didn't want to go, I did. It wasn't a choice but just something I did, like showering or eating veggies, who chooses not to do that? I needed to change my mentality, not just my actions.

Do I love running, no. Do I like it? Sortof. But I no longer let myself choose to only do things I find easy or love. I love ice cream. I love pizza. I love bikes. But I don't love running.

Funny thing is that people who have known me my whole life will make comments about how I am so "lucky" to be skinny, that I can magically run and breathe at the same time, I must have some innate ability that they do not possess. Makes me mad.....yes, the ability to get my butt out there when I don't wanna go. Sorry, nothing special just realizing we sometimes have to do things we don't love to do things we do...like have ice cream.

I'm on opposite end of things--skinny. Not thin, skinny. been this way my whole life and I STILL get people (usually over weight) who say "Don't you eat?". I would NEVER say the things to over weight people that they have said to me.

:::shrug:::

OMG!!! I schooled my mom on that just a few weeks ago(not that I'm not used to being asked such rediculous stuff by people who should know better myself) that she said a similar thing to a co-worker about what she was eating for lunch and if "she didn't eat like a rabbit(as in, salad), she might not look like a rabbit!" because apparently she had complained in a meeting that they were out of medical scrubs shirts in XS. Yes, heaven forbid she not need XXL. People say all kinds of rude things to me being thinner than they did when I wasn't. But I just think people feel like it is okay to say things about being thin vs being fat. It isn't like they don't think it though, it is just more taboo. I think people are just too judgy and have a plan FOR OTHERS to fix themselves instead of doing the hard work themselves, reguardless of weight. Pointing out other people's flaws is easier to fix than our own. I think it mainly comes down to that most cases, they are commenting on their own issues, not so much the person they are referring to.

I began my running career in high school because I weighted 118 lbs and my options were limted. Due to my upbringing in SoCal we spent the majority of our free time outdoors year round. Three channels on the TV [sometimes in blk-n-white] wasn't a major distraction. Playing ball, riding bikes, romping in the tide pools on the beach, running thru farmer's field was a much more attractive option. This really laid the foundation for my adult life.

The spark to run was cultivated watching the '72 Olympics and the following year I went out for XC. Can't say I loved it or even enjoyed it as the actual competition was 19-20 minutes of intense discomfort boarding on pain. But for the most part I took to it fairly easily, though I didn't display much talent or promise. After my last senior race I quit with no intention of ever lacing up a pair of running shoes [back then it wasn't common to wear running shoes casually].

Fast forward to 1980 and the inaugural Columbus marathon. That caught my attention and I gave strong consideration to running in the 1981 race. I began running in the Spring and it was similar to many of the stories you read in this forum, except my progress was a bit faster [after three months my 1st race was a 45:37 10k]. And three months I fulfilled my hope with a 3:35:18 debut marathon. That was the easiest of my 20 marathons and helped set the course for the remainder of my running life.

For the next several years I enjoyed the most successful period of my running career but after a very poor marathon in 1984 [3:19] I became disillusioned with running and quit for several years. I resumed / maintained casual jogging in the late 80's but didn't resume serious training until 1990-91. Other than a major injury in 1996 I've enjoyed running, training and competing in races ever since.